Archbishop Netto of Trivandrum and his community are protesting against the Vizhinjam port that is coming up in Trivandrum. How do you see this issue?

I am very much with those who protest against the decision of the government to build the new port, because they had appealed for a proper study way back in 2015, before construction on the project started. But no proper study was done. The Shankhumugham area where Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass with a large crowd is no more there. The same will continue to happen elsewhere along the sea coast, because the port is being built in an unscientific way. One of their demands is to halt construction on the project until a proper study is conducted. Secondly, many fishermen have lost their houses and their livelihood. Theirs is a natural reaction. Thy have nowhere else to go. Thirdly, some families that lost their houses are still staying in godowns and unhealthy places. And the surprising thing is that it is happening right under the nose of the authorities. The ideology of Kerala’s ruling party does not match with their governance. Neglecting the poor working class, they are cooperating with multi-national corporates like Adani to serve their own interests.

Bp Alex Joseph Vadakumthala, Kannur.